(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic security cutters (ASCs), ships designed to break through and navigate ice-covered waters. Contracts were awarded to Rauma Marine Constructions of Rauma, Finland, and Bollinger Shipyards of Lockport, La.
The Arctic security cutters will defend U.S. sovereignty, secure critical shipping lanes, protect energy and mineral resources, and counter adversaries’ presence in the Arctic region. They will enable the Coast Guard to control, secure and defend U.S. Alaskan borders, facilitate maritime commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility, and respond to crises and contingencies in the region.
“America has been an Arctic nation for over 150 years, and we’re finally acting like it under President Trump. Our adversaries continue to look to grow their presence in the Arctic, (and) equipping the Coast Guard with Arctic security cutters will help reassert American maritime dominance there,” said Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. “Revitalizing the U.S. Coast Guard’s icebreaking capabilities is crucial for our security and prosperity, and today’s announcement is an important step in that direction.”
“These awards represent decisive action to guarantee American security in the Arctic,” said Adm. Kevin E. Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard. “The Arctic security cutters will deliver the essential capability to uphold U.S. sovereignty against adversaries’ aggressive economic and military actions in the Arctic. These cutters will ensure the Coast Guard’s ability to control, secure, and defend our northern border and maritime approaches – without question.”
The contract with Rauma Marine Constructions includes up to two ASCs to be built in Finland, with delivery of the first vessel expected in 2028. The contract with Bollinger Shipyards includes up to four ASCs to be built in the United States, with delivery of the first domestically-built cutter expected in 2029. This plan is designed to take immediate advantage of Finnish icebreaker expertise while coordinating the on-shoring of that expertise in the United States in the long run.
The contract formalizes Bollinger’s leading role in the historic U.S.-Finland collaboration announced earlier this fall by the White House. Bollinger will construct ASCs based on the multi-purpose icebreaker design by Seaspan Shipyards of Vancouver, British Columbia, developed with Aker Arctic Technology of Helsinki, Finland. To support the objectives of the White House, Bollinger has worked in close partnership with Rauma Marine Constructions to ensure that the U.S. receives these icebreaking capabilities as rapidly as possible.
Work on the Bollinger-built ASCs will be based at its shipyard in Houma, La. Construction of the ASCs will be supported by the company’s workforce at multiple facilities across America’s Gulf Coast.
“The Arctic security cutter is one of the most consequential and time-sensitive shipbuilding programs in U.S. Coast Guard history, and today’s contract award is a clear vote of confidence in the men and women of Bollinger,” said Ben Bordelon, president and CEO of Bollinger Shipyards. “The program will be Bollinger’s fifth class of cutters built for the Coast Guard, building on our current Sentinel and polar security cutter programs and more than 40 years of experience in delivering over 187 cutters for the service. With clear direction from President Trump and an aggressive delivery timeline, our mission is straightforward: leverage the full strength of our shipbuilding facilities across the Gulf Coast, along with our proven partners, to deliver these cutters on schedule and mission ready on day one.”
– U.S. Coast Guard and Bollinger Shipyards
